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It stems from days when the legitimacy of a child would impact inheritance, but this no longer applies, according to solicitor Katharine Marshall.

“The re-registration is not to grant the father parental responsibility - he’d already have this as an unmarried father, provided he was included on the original birth certificate - but for the child to be recognised as a ‘child of the marriage" she said.

She added that small fines are possible for those who do not comply with this law.